The captive cleaned his daggers with a cross-shaped swing and walked toward the unconscious figures.
"Wait!"
Karon got to his feet, drew Zelid, and attacked the captive.
As embers and ashes drifted through the air, the two clashed their blades.
"I thought we were on the same side?"
"You don't have to kill them."
"What do you expect me to do?"
"We can keep them as prisoners for now. I have a cage at home."
"They're going to die anyway. Whether it's now or later, what difference does it make?"
"I'm not going to let you kill them."
As sharp gazes met one after another, the captive drew his daggers.
"Fine. But if you can't satisfy me, they'll die immediately."
"Deal."
Once the tension eased, Karon spoke first.
"I'm Karon."
"I'm Elan. Nice to meet you."
The two raised a hand to their foreheads in greeting.
"So, what are we going to do with them?"
"I'll handle carrying them. We're going to my home."
Karon raised his arms, and with a wave of his hand, the three unconscious figures floated into the air.
"The journey isn't that long. We can walk."
"Then I suppose we'll get to know each other on the way."
The two began walking, the floating figures trailing behind them.
"Why are you here, and how were you captured?"
"I'm a commander in my kingdom. I think they kidnapped me for ransom."
"Or maybe they wanted me to work for them. I'm not sure."
"Wasn't the war over?"
"War never ends, kid."
"Hm..."
"So how were you captured?"
"They threatened my family."
"I had no choice but to board that wagon on my own."
"Are you still determined not to kill them?"
"Everyone deserves a second chance."
"I wonder how many second chances this makes for them."
"The way you're staring, I take it this is your first time seeing an elf."
"Outside of books, yes."
"Seems your people don't have much going on."
"Watch your mouth, kid."
"Hahaha... You're the one who should be speaking politely to your savior."
The two exchanged side glances and continued walking in silence.
***
After passing through towering trees and crossing a stream, the cave finally came into view.
When they entered, Elan sat down on a chair while Karon locked up the prisoners and collapsed onto his bed.
"Welcome to my humble home, Elan."
"It's an interesting place."
"Judging by your desk, you're quite hardworking."
"There are things I need to finish."
"I've told my story. Your turn."
"Nothing special. Just a noble who ran away from home."
"From the Empire or the Kingdom?"
"An Imperial noble."
Elan raised an eyebrow, stood up, and began pacing back and forth.
"This just keeps getting more interesting."
"I wasn't expecting to meet someone this important."
"Neither was I."
"What was your rank?"
"Elan, we only just met. Shouldn't we get to know each other a little better first?"
"My apologies, savior. My mistake."
Karon laughed.
"Hahaha... Am I your savior now?"
"You're no longer just some random person."
"I don't like being judged by my status."
"That's how the world works, kid."
"I don't like that either."
This time it was Elan's turn to laugh.
"Hahaha... So you don't like the way the world works?"
"No. And I'll do everything I can to change it."
Elan's laughter faded. He looked at Karon with an odd expression.
"You're walking a difficult path."
"I know."
After wandering around the room and examining the papers for a while, Elan spoke again.
"Your technique is incomplete."
"Unfortunately."
"I'd like to help you as thanks for saving me, but I doubt I can complete it."
"Still, I don't feel right leaving you empty-handed. I'll do what I can."
"If necessary, I can teach you an elven technique."
"An elven technique is priceless."
"A small price for my life, savior."
"You know I have a name."
"Very well, Lord Karon."
"No need for titles, Elan."
"If I remember correctly, your culture values speaking respectfully to elders."
"Respect is earned, not granted."
"You can't possibly be older than me."
"Hahaha... The more I get to know you, the more interesting you become, Karon."
"So what are we going to do with these people?"
"We could make them swear a mana oath."
"There are plenty of ways around a mana oath, Karon."
"Don't act like you don't know that."
Unpleasant memories flashed through Karon's mind, and he shook his head.
"I have a plan, but it's hard to explain. Just follow me."
They brought the men out, tied their hands, and set off.
When the gray mist that seemed to pull people toward it came into view, Elan spoke.
"You never fail to surprise me, Karon."
"It's still too early to be surprised."
When they reached the edge of the mist, Karon tied the men together around their waists and handed each of them a sword.
"Don't try to run."
The moment he said it, one of the men bolted.
After taking a single step, he was slammed to the ground.
"I told you."
The man returned to his place with a sulking expression and waited.
"I don't know what you'll encounter once you go inside."
"But some of my previous test subjects died."
"I want you to make use of the chance I'm giving you and survive."
"And just in case, we'll be making a mana oath as well."
Karon took out several sheets of paper and began reading through the twenty or thirty conditions written on them.
"Stealing is forbidden. Slave trading is forbidden. Harming others is forbidden..."
The list went on and on.
With every condition, the men's faces grew paler.
In the end, they swore the oath with completely white faces.
Gripping their swords with trembling hands, they stepped into the mist...